ISLAMABAD, March 4: Comstech coordinator-general Prof Attaur Rahman left for Trieste, Italy, on Tuesday to attend a workshop on capacity building of academies in Muslim countries, which would be followed by a symposium on ‘science, religion and values’ from March 5-7.

The two events are being co-sponsored by Comstech and organized by Inter-academy Panel on International Issues (IAP) and Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

According to a press release, the workshop will be attended by the presidents of science academies and the ministers for science and technology of 15 Muslim countries.

A large number of leading Muslim scientists, presidents of the Islamic Academy of Sciences, Arab Academy of Sciences, and Science and Technology Foundation will also attend the meeting.

The participants will present and discuss the structure and functions of academies of science in their respective countries and the ways and means for developing the capabilities of Muslim countries in frontier technologies.

On the occasion, Prof Ata will preside over a session on ‘strategies to strengthen science’. He will also present two papers, “Science and Technology Development in the Islamic World” and “Pakistan Academy of Sciences-its strengthens, weaknesses and needs”.

The workshop will be followed by a one-day symposium, which will examine the intricate relationship between science, religion and values.